By Chris Roberts / El Paso Times, Texas
Sunday, May 29, 2011
As the Obama administration prepares to honor a 17-year-old treaty with Mexico allowing that country’s long-haul trucks into the U.S. heartland, emotions are again at fever pitch as businesses on both sides of the border predict job losses and industry upheaval.
The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, included a provision that the United States and Mexico would allow each other’s trucks to haul cargo across the border for delivery anywhere inside the other country.
To comply with NAFTA, the Obama administration in April proposed a three-year pilot program with requirements for Mexican truckers that include a preliminary safety audit, purchase of U.S. insurance, English proficiency for drivers, truck inspections for every border crossing for at least the first three months, an 18-month probation period and a three-month renewal period for safety inspections after permanent authority is granted.
"Participating Mexican carriers and drivers would be required to comply with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including those concerned with motor carrier safety, customs, immigration, vehicle registration and taxation, and fuel taxation," according to the program’s legal description.
When the pilot program concludes, the Mexican haulers would receive the same authority granted U.S.-based truckers. Public comment on the proposed program ended last week, and the final version is expected later this year.
But the devil has been in the details in the United States as objections have arisen over safety, fair competition, reciprocity and other issues. Some Mexican carriers are concerned that opening the borders will encourage U.S. haulers to locate in Mexico and dominate their industry.
"I wasn’t in Congress when they voted for NAFTA," said U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas. "But I think we signed the treaty and we should follow the treaty and respect its conditions."
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